garage door serviced door

A garage service door is a very important component of a garage. One of the most important things for most garage owners is ease of access. You want to be able to come in and out of your garage as conveniently as possible and as often as you want to.

However, making use of your standard garage door can be time-consuming and stressful.

Several homeowners wonder if they need a service door in their garage and the benefits of having such a door in their garage. In this article, discover the pros and cons of a garage service door and the importance of choosing one that works for you.

What is a Garage Service Door?

Whether at home or in commercial settings, many garages are fitted with service doors that lead to other rooms at home or other facilities. Service doors are designed to grant access to your garage without having to use the central garage door.

A garage service door, also known as a wicket door, man door, or simply a pedestrian door, is usually a classic swing door placed inside a garage door. The door is usually normal human-sized and is cut inside the bigger garage door to permit easy entry into the garage. This allows you to enter your garage without having to open the whole garage door.

How Much Does it Cost to Add a Service Door to a Garage?

On average, garage doors cost about $1000, typically ranging between $500 to $1500. Standard, single garage doors range between $700 to $1200 installed. Double car garage doors cost between $800 to $1500 installed. Labour usually costs about $200 per unit, with a new garage door being between $200 to $900.

Walkthrough service garage doors usually cost between $600 to $1800. The prices often depend on the size of the doors, the materials used and the required door mechanism.

What Are the Benefits of a Service Door?

There are several benefits of a service door; they are convenient and easy to use. Some of the benefits of a service door include:

• You only require a key to enter your garage, just like any other door in the house.
• Due to the service door serving as both a pedestrian door and a garage door. This will help to save floor and wall space, giving you a lot more storage space.
• If you have several things stored in your garage, passersby will not see them due to the garage door remaining closed.
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• With walk-in service doors, there is one remarkable safety feature that makes it a worth it purchase. Anyone who attempts breaking into your home or garage risks being seen in full view by neighbours or road users. One other advantage is that pedestrian doors open outwards, meaning that any force applied on the door to break it open further closes it.
• Even in a power outage, you will still have access to your garage, and the lack of power will not be a problem anymore.

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Service Door?

Although garage service doors are a great idea, they come with a few drawbacks.

Some of the pros of a service door include:

Conserves energy and causes less wear

Walking in and out of a service door for times where you don’t need the entire garage door to be opened can help prolong the life of your garage door remote and opener, as well as help conserve energy. A service door also allows heat to escape the garage during the cold winter months better than the standard garage door.

Added convenience

Rather than having to roll up the entire garage door whenever you need to take out the trash or grab the mail, a traditional garage service door can save you the trouble.

Saves you space

If your home is on a tight block with a small lot, the front of your garage might not be able to accommodate a standard-size garage door along with a swing door alongside. Installing your service door in your garage door is a great way to maximize space without compromising on your accessibility.

Improves privacy

Suppose you are worried about passerby’s peeking into your garage unnecessarily. Having a smaller access point can help.

Helps during power outages and increases fire safety

When you need to vacate your property quickly during an emergency, it is not very feasible to bank on an electric garage door opener. A service door ensures you can get in and out of the garage when you need to, increasing safety.

Even though there are many pros to having a garage service door, certain circumstances might not be the best option.

Some of the cons of a garage service door include:

Additional installation cost

Including a garage service door requires specialized safety features, and the cost of installation can add up. You can avoid this by using an affordable company that specializes in installing garage door Toronto.

Making small doors less energy efficient

Even though a service door can boost energy efficiency, small garage doors can become less efficient with installing the main door. This is because it creates more openings for the circulation of air. You can tackle this problem with proper sealing.

Increased damage potential

Some homeowners have caused serious damage to their garage doors by attempting to open them after leaving the main door ajar accidentally. You can prevent this by being extra cautious and making use of modern security technology.

Does Your Garage Door Need a Service Door?

Since a garage is not considered a habitable space and its main purpose is vehicle storage, the standard garage door that admits a vehicle is required. Another reason a service door is not a requirement is because the garage is not considered an egress path. One is not required to egress to the outdoors through the garage from the living area.

However, you must confirm with your local building department to ensure they do not require a service door.

If you’re thinking of closing up your garage doors, you can simply keep them locked and stack your shelves in front of the door. This will prevent anyone inside the garage from using the door. Also, because the door is locked, no one from outside will access the garage using that door. Keeping the door may be a great idea as the next buyer might want a service garage door in their garage.

What Are the Basics of a Service Door?

A service door is located in the main garage door. Usually, it swings on a set of hinges, and it can be locked when not in use. A major difference between a garage service door and a house door is that the service door opens outwards, unlike the doors in standard residential homes, which open inwards.

Due to the service door jamb fitting flush, the existing garage door can’t swing inwards. Although this might take a little time to get used to, most homeowners do not consider this a problem. An intruder will find it impossible to kick in the service garage door without meeting a substantial amount of resistance.

Conclusion

When you have a garage door expert, garage door installation comes easy. If you need professional assistance for your garage door Toronto, you can contact TCB Doors.

We are a reputable company specializing in garage door maintenance near me, door opener maintenance, torsion spring maintenance, etc.

Some of our services include garage door framing, garage door spring installation, garage door opener belt installation/repair, among many others.

All our technologies are insured and licensed. We also offer affordable pricing with a 90-day guarantee. We offer emergency services and are available 24/7.